So I haven't said anything in any of my previous posts here about this topic, so here goes.
I read the story link below I watched this years NCAA Tourney and I really don't see why anyone would advise Mr. Mullens to go into the NBA unless it was for their own interst, like an agent wanting to make a commission off of him right away. Sure, it would be tough to not take the money and run if you were Mr. Mullens, but I find it hard to understand how someone committed to Ohio State University since 8th grade could leave after just one year. Right now that level of commitment is a rare thing but I guess it will start to be more common in the future.
If you are at a top-program school you will have to have a line of recruits because your top starters will be leaving every year which has been the case for Ohio State over the last 5 years. Maybe you would say to me, "It's the money, not the love of the game anymore." If that's the case let's look at the fact that you won't receive the best possible salary. You would lose one year's salary since you will end up in the development league for the NBA or shipped off to Europe because of Ohio State's performance this year. Kosta Koufos, last year's Ohio State draft pick, didn't find his way into the NBA, so why leave the high visibility of a school like Ohio State where all games are televised? If you stayed, you would be a sure pick for next year's NCAA tournament where you might show your worth and not get bumped by a college like little-known Siena.
Mullens is entering the draft this year with a loss to a small school in the first round of the NCAA tournament. I have went back and watched the last minute of the game and Mullins had 3 large mistakes in the most important moments of the game. He missed both free throws, he stepped out late on defense to cover a three instead of being in his zone space to cover the basket at his size, and he gave up a layup. You could see a three-pointer after another mistake so it was overtime after that point.
For a quick one-year salary I would have to bet anyting Mullens would be getting a higher draft pick number if he actually showed, not just promised, that he could win a big game. The top teams Ohio State played this year was not a pretty sight. The indivual performace that Mullens could have shown with just one more year would have doubled what he would have in salary over the life of his career pay scale.
I just don't get it. Mullens didn't even start this year. Why didn't he start? He wasn't ready to start. Ohio State's great coach Thad Matta knew that he was not ready. I mean I feel for Thad Matta looking at having to land a great player like Greg Oden, a rare 7-footer, then lose him to the NBA after one year, and then it happens again with Kosta Koufos. Now he does it an amazing third time and loses Mullens after one year. I know that they have a weekly Ohio State basketball show in Columbus and the large campus loves sports and their players and you can't be treated any better than at OSU. I don't understand Mullens leaving a school where he took a spot to help himself out and gave very little in return with only one year.
It's really sad. Mullens is trading Big Ten network and Ohio State for an NBDL development league to learn his post moves, since he has none at this point except a dunk, and to learn basic defense forms. It would have been nice to see Thad Matta have a chance to develop a player like this with so much promise.
Ohio State C Mullens to enter NBA draft
Thu 26th, March 2009
Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Ohio State freshman center B.J. Mullens announced on Thursday he will enter the 2009 NBA Draft.
"I am saddened to lose B.J.," Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta said. "On one hand, I feel another year in school would have allowed him to develop into the player I know he can be and an additional season would have been beneficial to him both personally and monetarily in the long run. On the other hand, I am empathetic to the reasons why he has chosen to leave at such an early point in his career."
The 7-footer is the fifth Ohio State freshman to declare for the draft over the past three years, joining 2007 No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr., Daequan Cook and Kosta Koufos.
"After long consideration I have decided to enter my name in the 2009 NBA Draft," Mullens said. "This was not an easy choice because I love The Ohio State University but the many positive reasons for moving on outweigh the many good reasons for staying."
Mullens mostly came off the bench for the Buckeyes (22-11) this season, averaging 20.3 minutes with two starts, appearing in all 33 games while posting 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. His 64 percent shooting accuracy was tops among Ohio State freshman all-time.
